Annmarie and Rich back on Maui

Aloha, everyone:

It was two very long (and not-so-comfortable) plane flights from Baltimore, including a San Francisco overnight layover. Ann and Rich arrived OGG last night and her "b.f.f." Kirsten was there to drive them both back to Wailuku.

I just spoke with Rich. He said that Annmarie is resting and recovering from the long journey, and he is hopeful that she will be feeling up to par later this afternoon. They are thankful for her healing progress so far and very glad to be back in the comforts of home here on Maui.

I will post again tomorrow with more info.

Annmarie staples coming out

More good news this morning:

Just had a phone conversation with Annmarie a minute ago. (Rich was off on an errand and she picked up the phone). Everything looking okay; she saw the doctor over the weekend and he told her he would be taking most of the (50+) staples out tomorrow (Wednesday).

"It's been kind of a roller-coaster ride.." according to Ann- "Some moments are okay, but then other times, well- not so okay."

They had to re-schedule an earlier flight back to Maui, because Annmarie doesn't feel totally comfortable with the long plane ride and the apprehension of not being totally "flight-worthy" just yet. She still has occasional episodes where it would not be expedient to be stuck in a tube 3 miles over the ocean for several long hours, but they are hoping this will be less of a problem later in the week.

Annmarie and Rich are currently scheduled to leave Baltimore Thursday July 8 at 8:30AM. They will stay overnight in San Francisco and then fly back here to Maui the following day- arriving Friday evening at 7:30.

Thanks again, everyone, for your thoughts, donations and kind words.

More later this week.

-charles

Today a big day for Annmarie and Rich

Today is Ann and Rich's 24th wedding anniversary! Annmarie is in good spirits and she has been feeling a lot more comfortable. She is moving around more and has increased her walking distance to appr. 200 yards a day. This is good news, because she has an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and if the healing is going as well as expected, he will be removing her surgical staples.

If things continue to progress, they are scheduled to fly back to Maui a week from tomorrow, July 9.

Aloha and I'll keep you posted.

Talked with the patient a moment ago!

I just called Annmarie's husband Rich to get an update and he immediately put the call on "speakerphone."

Lo and behold: Ann was awake and began talking to me! We had a long (about 10 minute) conversation.

She has been released from the hospital and She and Rich are staying in a nearby hotel room for this coming week's recovery period.

Annmarie sounded clear and did not appear to be in any extraordinary heavy pain. She gave me some anecdotes (talked story) about how she must have been an ogre to family and to the hospital staff during the days when she was in extreme post-op pain:

"Is there anyone on this planet and in this *%#Xxº!!ø** hospital who can find some way to stop my nasal drip??!! It is making me cough and hurting where the *%&#?#@•!!staples are!!!?" Grrrr

Annmarie seemed to smile when she described how they gave some Maui coffee gifts to some of the hospital staff and felt grateful to all of them for putting up with her and to thank them for caring for her through this very delicate operating procedure and follow-up.

It looks like her doctor will return to Maryland this Thursday and Annmarie is expecting him to take the staples out during her appointment this coming Friday.

More info as it comes in...

Updated: Friday June 25

Annmarie had a rough day Wednesday. She felt nauseous and did not want to walk or eat. Clear fluids were not going well. She showed quite a bit of anxiety and complained about being "pushed" and was exhibiting a bit more anger than the family wanted to hear. Rich had a conversation with the nurse who then gave Ann a shot- and she was out and resting within 30 minutes- and all was well.

Thursday things went a lot better. A friend from Boston who has had lymphoma and is a survivor and Cancer Society worker flew down to Maryland to see Ann and livened up the room. Annmarie feeling much better today; she is eating again and walked two laps.

Doctor likes her progression and she may be dismissed in a few days.

Update Sat June 19

Talked with Rich for several minutes yesterday. Annmarie's dad drove down to Maryland and is staying with Ann and Rich in the hospital room. Rich says Ann is back to "normal"- complaining to her buddy Kirsten about how awful everything is going- but the surgeon and Dad and Rich are ecstatic about the results of the operation, the prognosis and Ann's progress so far. Things are looking great! Everything looks good right now- I will keep posting here often.

Just talked to Annmarie's husband Rich: The complicated operation was very successful and, so far, the prognosis is very, very optimistic. Ann is resting now after the long procedure and, Rich- after having been in the hospital for the past 18 hours- is going back to the hotel to get a shower and some much-needed sleep. He feels very good after talking to the surgeon. There are only five doctors in the country who do this type of surgery and Rich and Annmarie feel very fortunate that her type of cancer and particular diagnosis made her a viable candidate for this costly and complex procedure.